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Scholar-in-Residence Program

Newberry scholars in the Reference Room

The Scholar-in-Residence Program serves to provide an intellectual community for postdoctoral scholars conducting humanities research in the Newberry’s collection. Although the Newberry cannot offer remuneration to Scholars-in-Residence, participants have access to the Newberry during extended hours, personal research space, and opportunities to present work-in-progress to local scholarly communities. The experience of the Newberry’s fellows, staff, and readers is much enhanced by the contributions that Scholars-in-Residence make to our shared intellectual life each year.

Scholars-in-Residence are expected to be in residence for a full academic year, publish or otherwise disseminate their research, and participate in the Newberry’s community. Residency can be renewed; acceptance is contingent upon participation in events and yearly attendance.

Applications for the program are accepted each year starting in the spring. The deadline for the 2017-18 academic year is May 1, 2017. Applicants will be notified of their status in late May or early June.

Please read the application guidelines on this page carefully before submitting your application.

If you have any questions about the webform, application materials, or the Scholars-in-Residence program, please email research@newberry.org.

Using the Webform

All application materials must be submitted together electronically through the appropriate Newberry Library webform. The webform cannot be submitted partially, nor can it be revised once it has been submitted. Applicants must complete the webform and upload their project description, CV, and publication list in order for their application to be considered complete.

The Newberry will not accept re-submissions of materials. Once an application has been submitted, the Newberry will not accept any revisions or updates.

The Newberry will not accept application materials through postal or electronic mail.

PDF files are preferred but not required. The server will accept .doc, .docx, or .pdf files.

The Newberry server cannot accept attachments larger than 10 MB.

After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation screen. You will also receive an electronically generated email within 24 hours. If you have not received an email within the allotted time, please check your spam folder before contacting us.

Required Materials

The Scholar-in-Residence application consists of four elements, which will be reviewed by the Newberry’s Academic Council:

1. The Webform, which asks for contact information, project information, and other details pertaining to being a Scholar-in-Residence at the Newberry. The Scholar-in-Residence Webform can be found here. Remember: Webforms cannot be saved for submission at a later date, and the Newberry will not accept additional or amended application materials once it has been submitted.

2. A Project Description of no more than 1,000 words. This document should describe the research project, explain its significance, enumerate the Newberry materials to be consulted, and outline a plan of work. When prompted, upload the project description to the webform.

Please note that candidates’ need for and intensive use of the Newberry’s collection is a crucial factor in our consideration of applications. Thus, please be as specific as possible about the Newberry materials you would like to use. When appropriate, please make specific reference to previous published scholarship that will be revised or supplanted by the proposed project. For information about the Newberry’s collection, see our Core Collections and consult the Online Catalog.

3. A current Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than five pages. Upload your CV to the webform when prompted. Please use the following commonly accepted terms to describe forthcoming publications:

“in progress” (not yet completed or submitted)

“submitted” (currently under review at a journal or press)

“accepted” (contracted for publication; currently under revision)

“in press” (in the hands of copy editor, typesetter, or printer)

4. A separate list of your scholarship published in the last five years, for which you made substantial use of the Newberry’s collection. The list may include books, journal articles, and peer-reviewed online publications. Upload your publications list to the webform when prompted.

Please note: The Newberry will not accept applications which include any materials in excess of the Required Materials. Excessive materials include but are not limited to: